Toyota Celica GT4 ST165 Price Guide?

[Alan Mac]

How do we go about getting a car listed in the PC price guide?

I own a 91 GT4 ST185 which is on the guide but others members of the GT4OC are not quite so lucky. Especially when it comes to getting an agreed valuation from insurance companies it would appear. One club member has been told he cannot have an agreed valuation above £2k on his pristine ST165 despite the fact cars in that condition can literally write their own cheque when they come up for sale, which not surprisingly isn't often. How you could be expected to replace a car which owes you well over £5k with a £2k insurance pay out is beyond me?

The ST185, 89 - 93, guide price is actually pretty accurate with only truly exceptional CS variants making more than your dealer/concours price, so it's a big pat on the back from me for a job well done there but why no listing for the older ST165 model? Insurers seem to be basing values on the ST162 2wd non turbo version which is like comparing a 1.3 Popular Escort mk2 with a RS2000 (even then the RS1800 would be a fairer comparison but they are truly daft money). These cars are homologation specials not run of the mill shopping cars. Believe me, the bills to maintain them properly back this statement up 100%. Surely this should be reflected in agreed valuations? They are expensive beasts to restore.

In general I find the lack of interest in and knowledge of the GT4 variants quite strange bearing in mind anything else with a rallying heritage commands stupid money in the market place. And the classic press ignoring the model just bewilders me considering how successful they were compared to cars which get far more coverage. Four wheel drive, 2 litre, turbocharged, inter-cooled, 16v, WRC rally pedigree, yet insurers think a top notch 165 is worth the same as an Allegro 1750? No, these cars went toe to toe with the Integrale and won frequently. There is no way on this earth an Integrale owner would accept a £2k valuation so why should a GT4 ST165 owner? Look at the 165's contemporaries from the mid 80's, the Integrale, RS Cosworth Sierra, Audi Quattro, Pug 205, MG6R4, Opel Manta and Kadett (Astra), Mazda RX-7, etc. Every one of those cars road version is listed at higher value despite the fact most are inferior 2WD versions and the GT4 165 regularly whipped all of them except the Growler (which the 185 did). Would any of their owners accept a £2k valuation on their car? I very much doubt it.

As I say, I'm happy with the accurate guide for the 185 variant, just perplexed as to why the 165 has been left out? Without a valuation from a respected source such as PC insurers have the opportunity to take the P. And as much as I'm on the classic insurers side for keeping premiums down I can't help but be annoyed that £2k is the best valuation they'll give on a car which is obviously worth much more. It puts people off restoring them for a start and will ultimately force buyers to look elsewhere if they can't get reasonable cover. That my friends is how cars become extinct. Sad but true.

Alan